Prime Minister’s Office

Hungary stands up for persecuted Christians

May 15, 2019 11:36 AM

Christianity is the most persecuted religion, but Hungary stands up for persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, Minister of State of the Prime Minister’s Office said at an event attended by Nigerian Christian church leaders.

The head of the State Secretariat for helping persecuted Christians and the implementation of the Hungary Helps Programme said world-wide a quarter of a million Christians are suffering from discrimination due to their faith, but this is something that is barely mentioned in the media.

While in March the whole world mourned in shock and with sympathy the some fifty Muslim victims of the attacks carried out in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand – and very correctly so –, the 120 victims killed in Nigeria due to their Christian faith at around the same time are not remembered. In actual fact, attempts are being made to diminish the anti-Christian nature of the attack, Mr Azbej observed.

He added that on the issue of persecuted Christians there is, however, no room for beating about the bush, or for political correctness. One of the most carefully concealed tragedies of the 21st century is the cause of persecuted Christians, despite the fact that their lives have the same value as those of other victims, he said.

The Minister of State pointed out that Hungary is a Christian country, and it is the Hungarian government’s historical mission to protect its culture, borders and families. The Hungarian government stands up for persecuted Christians; however, this takes more than nice words, it calls for deeds. This is the purpose that the Hungary Helps Programme serves, he added.

Mr Azbej stated repeatedly that help must be taken where there is trouble, rather than bringing problems here. As part of the Hungary Helps Programme, the Hungarian government has already helped thousands of persecuted Christian families. For instance, it sponsored the reconstruction of the education infrastructure in Nigeria, which was destroyed by the extremist Islamic organisation Boko Haram, with a contribution of one million euros.

He highlighted that Hungary will continue to help its Christian brothers and sisters as it has done to date.

The event entitled “Growing amidst thorns, plight of professing Christians in a Muslim majority environment: Story of the Diocese of Sokoto” was also attended by Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria, Dacholom Datiri, President of the Church of Christ of Nigeria, and MEP György Hölvényi.